Writing Overview
At Sandling Primary School, our writing curriculum inspires a love for language while embedding our school’s PRACTISE values. We develop problem solvers by teaching children to plan, edit, and publish their writing, fostering resilience through the writing process. An adventurous spirit is encouraged as students explore diverse genres and real-world contexts, while creativity shines through opportunities to craft and express unique ideas. Collaborative tasks during the immersion stage promote teamwork, and individual writing challenges build independence and self-assurance. By mastering writing, students grow in esteem, recognising the power of their words and ideas.
What our pupils say about their Writing learning
| "In Drawing Club, I use different drawings and new words which we are learning. Drawing Club gives me good ideas for my writing." Toby - Year R |
| “I like writing about real things which we find out about." Isabella - Year 1 |
| "After visiting Bodiam Castle, we created a report about it. It was useful to write about somewhere we had been as I could add more facts and details. The more writing you do – the better you get at it!" Rian - Year 2 |
| "I am really proud of my diary writing, I was able to use some new punctuation and words which I had seen in the book, Here Comes Hercules." Sophie - Year 3 |
| "Writing about books we have read helps to give my own writing a base, I like using the reading to inspire my own writing." Toby - Year 4 |
| "I enjoy writing and experimenting with using more vocabulary and up-levelling my work when we edit it. Editing is really useful for checking for mistakes and making improvements." Felix - Year 5 |
| "I enjoy descriptive, fiction writing – especially when I get to use descriptive devices; this year I have explored using oxymorons in my writing. I always like to go back and up-level my work; recently I have done this through including semi-colons." Edie - Year 6 |
How We Teach Writing at Sandling Primary School
At Sandling Primary School, we take a phased, developmental approach to teaching writing, tailored to meet the needs of each stage of a child's learning journey.
Writing in Key Stages 1 and 2
Writing units typically span two weeks, though extended narratives in Upper Key Stage 2 may last up to three weeks for more in-depth exploration. Each unit is structured around five key phases:
- Immersion
- Planning
- Drafting
- Editing
- Publishing
The publishing phase offers flexibility and creativity, with outcomes such as refined written sections, spoken performances, class books, or letters sent for a real purpose. Units are backward-planned, starting with the final outcome and designing lessons to build toward that goal.
In Key Stage 2, writing is rooted in the core text being studied, while in Key Stage 1, it connects to a theme or collection of texts. Throughout each phase, pupils are explicitly taught text features, grammar, punctuation, and writing techniques. Medium-term plans (MTPs) outline the desired outcomes, the focus on grammar, punctuation, handwriting, and spelling, ensuring alignment with the National Curriculum. These plans guarantee progression across and within year groups.
Writing in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In EYFS, writing is introduced through purposeful and engaging activities that develop foundational skills. Children are given regular opportunities to practise mark-making and writing through both child-initiated and adult-guided activities. Fine motor skills are a key focus, ensuring children are physically prepared for writing.
Children are encouraged to "have a go" at writing, applying phonics knowledge gained in Little Wandle phonics sessions. They use tools like sound mats and tricky word mats to support their independence in writing.
A unique feature of our EYFS writing approach is Drawing Club (Greg Bottrill), which integrates story-sharing, speaking, listening, drawing, and writing. Each week, a focus story or animation introduces new vocabulary. During Drawing Club, children create illustrations inspired by the story and gradually progress from drawing to labelling their work with initial sounds and simple words, eventually writing sentences about their illustrations as their skills develop.
Spelling
- In EYFS, spelling is taught through the synthetic phonics Little Wandle scheme, aligned with the phases of the Letters and Sounds program.
- This approach continues into Key Stage 1, integrated with National Curriculum objectives. Classrooms display useful resources, including word lists, Grow the Code charts, and spelling rules.
- In Key Stage 2, spelling follows the Spelling Shed progression map. Lessons are introduced on Mondays, revisited through shorter sessions throughout the week, and reinforced via home assignments on Spelling Shed.
Handwriting
Handwriting instruction progresses systematically to develop fluency and confidence:
- In Year R and Year 1, children are taught print handwriting using Little Wandle resources.
- By Term 4 of Year 1, children are introduced to pre-cursive handwriting, incorporating lead-in and lead-out strokes.
- From Year 2 to lower Key Stage 2, children refine their cursive handwriting.
- In upper Key Stage 2, students are encouraged to develop their individual handwriting style, writing in joined script.
Handwriting tools:
- Pupils use pencils until Year 4 when they may transition to fountain or handwriting pens, awarded at the teacher’s discretion via the pen license system.
Year Group Medium Term Plans
Please contact the English Lead via the school office if you have any further questions.
